DOPE BUSTS IN THE WEST - MINOR CANNABIS OFFENSES IN THE WESTERN-AUSTRALIAN CRIMINAL-JUSTICE SYSTEM

Proponents of cannabis law reform argue that many people who are convi cted for minor cannabis offences have no prior criminal conviction and are otherwise law-abiding citizens. This study of criminal justice sy stem data in a strict prohibition jurisdiction (Western Australia) fou nd that over 10% of all charges and 85% of all drug charges were for c annabis. Approximately 90% of these were for minor offences, Over 40% of those charged with cannabis possession/use as their most serious of fence had never been arrested for any prior offence. Almost half of th ose first arrested for cannabis possession/use had not been arrested u p to 10 years later. Younger first-time arrested cannabis users were m ore likely to be re-arrested than older offenders. Almost all adult ca nnabis offenders who went to court were convicted and fined. Nearly 95 % of those imprisoned for possession/use of cannabis were gaoled for f ine default. The findings accord with earlier research showing that th e vast majority of these offenders are, in all respects apart from the ir cannabis use, a non-criminal section of the community.